Convertible baby carriage and stroller



May 4,1937] A. E. CAL TON 2,078,929

CONVERTIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND STROLLER Filed July 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 4, 1937. E CALTQN 2,078,929

CQNVER TIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND STROLLER Filed July 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flECaZZon Patented May 4, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,078,929 CONVERTIBLE BABY CARRIAGE AND STR-OLLER Albert E. Calton, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to Elsie O. Calton, Elmira, N. Y.

Application July 25,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of baby carriages and pertains particularly to a carriage of a convertible type. c

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a, baby carriage which may be readily converted from a carriage to a stroller without taking out or removing any parts of the structure but simply by shifting one portion of the structure relative to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baby carriage having a streamlined type of body which is transversely divided to form two portions and in which one of the portions may be dropped from a position where it forms a complete carriage structure in combination with the other portion, to a position where it forms a foot well for the other portion, thus converting the carriage into a stroller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carriage having two body portions relatively adjustable vertically and so connected that the sides of the portions are flush one with the other in whatever relative positions the portions may be and in which bottoms for the portions may be brought into the same horizontal plane to form a complete bottom for a carriage, or one may be lowered with the portion of which it forms a part to form a foot support when the carriage is converted into a stroller.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a convertible carriage of the character set forth, a novel sliding connection between the portions whereby the relative movement of the portions is unrestricted insofar as the sliding connection is concerned, and one of the portions may be completely detached from i the other portion without the necessity of releasing or removing detachable parts.

The invention will be best understood from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing "of the drawings but may be changedor modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the carriage structure embodying the present invention, a portion of the same being broken away to show interior details of construction.

Figure 2 is a View partly in side elevation and 1935, Serial No. 33,164

partly in section of the forward portion of the carriage converted to form a stroller;

' Figure 3 is a view looking toward the front of the rear section of the carriage, with the guide elements removed; 5

Figure 4 is a view looking toward the rear of the front section or dash of the carriage with the guide elements removed;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantial- 1y on the line 6-6 of Figure 1. Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l indicates generally the body of the carriage embodying the present invention, the same being divided transversely to form a front or dash section 2 and a rear section 3. These sections have, floor units 4 and 5, respectively, therein which aredisposed in the same horizontal plane when the sections are in the relation to form a carriage body, as illustrated in Figure 1. At each side of the rear section at the front edge of the same, there extends upwardly from a point a substantial distance below the bottom 5, a mid-post 6 on the forward face of which a tongue 1 is formed. These mid pests 6 are joined beneath the bottom 5 by a stabilizer brace 8 to the underside of which the front carriage supporting spring 9 is attached, which is mounted upon a cross bar In which has its ends extended across the longitudinally extending frame bars ll. These frame bars at their rear ends curve upwardly and rearwardly to form the handle bars l2 which are joined at their upper ends by a handle l3 in the usual manner, and extending transversely of and secured to the frame bars II are the axles M on which are mounted the carriage wheels IS. A spring supporting structure l6 extends upwardly from the rear axle of the carriage and joins the bottom of the rear portion 5 in the'usual conventional manner.

The front or dash portion of the carriage is preferablyof the same height as the rear portion and is sloped downwardly and forwardly, as 1 shown. This is merely a preferred formation of the 'dash and is not to be construed as a limitation in the construction of the carriage. The rear vertical edges of the dash portion 2 are secured to and supported by dash mid-posts l! which parallel and are in opposed relation with the. rear mid-posts 6, as shown in Figure 1, and which extend downwardly beneath the dash bottom 4 where they are securely attached to the frame of the bo'tt'ornl by the brackets 18.

The lower edge of the dash 2 at each side is provided with an upwardly extending recess 59 which receives the front axle of the carriage when the dash is lowered to the position illustrated in Figure 2 in converting the carriage into a stroller.

Sliding connection is established between the opposed mid-posts of the dash and rear portion of the carriage by means of the elongated parallel interengaging slides 20 and 2!. These slides are both channel-shaped in cross section and have their side edges rounded, as illustrated in Figure 5 and one thereof, such as the slide 20, extends parallel with and receives a tongue I of a midpost 6 so that its outer or convex surface is presented to the adjacent mid-post ll of the dash 2. While the inturned edges of the fixed slide 20 may be secured in the side faces of the rib I, an additional securing means such as the screw 22, may be passed through the slide so that it will not shift its position on the rib.

Each of the slides fl is secured longitudinally of a dash mid-post I! with its back or convex side against the post so that its concave side is presented to the fixed slide 2% on the adjacent rib l. Securing elements such as the screws 23 maintain the shiftable slides 2! in position against their respective posts ll, and as will be seen upon reference to Figures 5 and 6, the slides 2i receive the fixed slides 29 in telescoping relation so that the dash 2 is thus firmly attached to the fixed portion of the carriage body but is permitted free vertical movement relative thereto and by continuing the upward movement of the dash, the fixed and movable slides may be completely disengaged so that the dash may be detached from the rear portion of the carriage, if found desirable.

Upon each side of the dash 2 adjacent the top thereof, there is secured a spring actuated bolt 24 having a handle or knob 25 by which it may be shifted and having a beveled point 25 which passes through the outer side of the adjacent slide 2! and is adapted to engage in suitable openings in the adjacent fixed slide 28 for the purpose of securing the dash in any desired position relative to the fixed portion of the body. The fixed slides 20 may be provided at their outer sides with several apertures for the reception of the points of the bolts 24 so that the dash may be secured in any one of several positions of adjustment.

Mounted upon the bars H at the forward ends thereof is a platform 2'! which extends rearwardly beneath the bar If) and which at its forward end is curved upwardly slightly, as indicated at 28. Disposed vertically over this platform 27 is an apron 29 which is secured along its top edge to the under side of the forward portion of the frame for the floor 5 and extends downwardly across and is secured to the stabilizer bar 8, terminating short of the platform 21, as illustrated in Figure 2. There is thus formed a space between the lower edge of the apron 29 and the platform 2'! which allows for any slight movement of the carriage body relative to the wheeled under portion. The apron 29 provides a guard to prevent the heels of the occupant of the carriage getting back under the stabilizer bar and in the spring 9.

While means may be provided at the upper ends of the posts 6 and I l to prevent the complete removal of the dash portion 2 from the rear portion 1 of the carriage, with the structure as illustrated the dash portion may be moved upwardly until it is completely detached from the portion 1 so that the front of the carriage will then be open and a child occupying the same will have a support for his feet in the platform 21. As shown in Figure 2, when the dash portion 2 is lowered, the bottom 4 of the dash will have its frame resting upon the platform 21 and the upturned portion of this platform will be disposed between the vertical side posts 39 which are at the forward part of the dash portion and constitute a part of the frame structure upon which the covering material for this portion is secured.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that a carriage constructed in accordance with the present invention presents an attractive appearance as it does not have any unsightly break between the adjustable portions thereof, as is the case with carriages of the type at present in use, and that when the dash portion 2 is in raised or lowered position, the floor 4 thereof is made use of in both instances. When the dash is lowered, the floor 4 constitutes a foot support for an occupant of the stroller and the dash body forms the well therefor. When the dash is raised, this foot support comes into the plane of the floor 5 and thus forms a continuation thereof to form the complete floor of the carriage and the top of the dash comes to the same elevation as the top of the rear portion so that the carriage is of the same depth from the front to the rear.

By providing the lower edges of the sides of the dash 2 with the recesses 9 for the reception of the front axle of the carriage, the dash is stabilized and any strains imposed thereon incident to the standing of the occupant of the carriage upon the floor 4 is taken by the axle instead of being carried by the sliding connection between the carriage portions.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a carriage, a wheel supported frame, a body supported on said frame and transversely divided to form a dash portion and a rear portion, a fioor in each of said portions which is in the same plane with the floor of the other portion when the said portions are in one position relative to one another, a sliding connection between i said portions permitting the complete removal of the dash portion from the rear portion, an apron extending downwardly from the forward edge of the floor of the rear portion, and a platform mounted upon said frame and extending forwardly from said apron beneath the floor of the dash portion, said dash portion of the floor when in one position resting upon said platform.

2. In a convertible carriage having an under frame comprising side rails, a control handle connected with the rails and supporting wheels carrying the frame, a body overlying said frame and transversely vertically divided to form front and rear portions, resilient means supporting the rear of said rear portion from the frame, resilient means supporting the front part of said rear portion from the frame and lying entirely behind the vertical plane of division between said portions, and sliding coupling means between said portions constructed and arranged to permit the forward portion to be lowered into resting position on the frame and to be raised to an elevation above the rear portion.

3. In a convertible carriage having an under frame comprising side rails, a control handle connected with the rails and supporting wheels carrying the frame, a body overlying said frame and transversely vertically divided to form front and rear portions, resilient means supporting the rear ofsaidrear portion from the frame, resilient means supporting the front part of the said rear portion from the frame and lying entirely behind the vertical plane of division between said portions, a plate carried by and extending the width of said frame forwardly of the second mentioned resilient means, and sliding coupling means between said portions constructed and arranged to permit the forward portion to be lowered for support on said plate and to be raised for complete detachment from the rear portion whereby said plate may be used as a foot rest.

4. In a convertible carriage having an under frame comprising two parallel side rails, a control handle connected with the rails at one end and wheels supporting said rails, a body transversely vertically divided to form front and rear portions having opposed wall edges, a post extending the length of each wall edge of the rear portion and projecting a substantial distance below the same, resilient means supporting the front part of said rear portion from said frame and lying entirely behind the vertical plane of said edges, resilient supporting means between the rear of the rear portion and said vertical plane, a floor in each portion, a post extending along each edge of the front portion, and sliding coupling means between the posts of the two portions permitting said forward portion to be lowered to rest on said frame, the extended lower ends of the posts of the rear portion constituting a brace and guide for the posts of the forward portion.

5. In a carriage, a wheel supported frame, a body supported on said frame and transversely 1 divided to form a dash portion and a rear portion, a floor in each of said' portions, said front and rear portions having straight parallel opposing edges, one of said portions having the said edges thereof provided with a central longitudinally extending rib, interconnecting coupling means between the ribs of one of said portions and the opposing edges of the other portion, comprising a pair of channeled members, one of said members of each pair having a rib extending into the channeled side thereof and having its longitudinal edges turned into the sides of the rib, the other channeled portion of each pair of channeled members having its outer face secured against a wall edge which opposes a rib and slidably receiving the adjacent channel member in its channel side, and latch means carried by the dash portion and adapted for extension thru the apertures of adjacent channeled members for coupling the same against relative movement.

6. In a carriage, a frame comprising parallel rail members, handle means connected with the rail members at one end of the carriage structure, supporting wheels for the rail members, a body overlying the said members and vertically transversely divided to form a dash portion and a rear portion, supporting connecting means between said rear portion only and the underlying frame, means adjustably coupling the dash and rear portions together whereby the dash may be shifted vertically, said dash portion including front and side walls and said rear portion including back and side walls, a floor member secured in each of said body portions at a substantial distance above the bottom edges of the walls thereof, said walls of the dash portion forming with the floor thereof a housing in which the forward portion of the said frame is disposed when the dash portion is in lowered position.

ALBERT E. CALTON. 

